Motor-controlled stabilizer



April 26, 1932. I E. A. FIELD ET AL- MOTOR CONTROMLKD STAHTLTZER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 1931 INVENTOR Eawa rd d. Field BY Edward 6? dd J MRNE s A ril 26, 1932. O E. A. FIELD ET AL' MOTOR CONTROLLED STABILIZER Filed Nov. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mfin wh N R w mmm MW MM Patented Apr. 26, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD AJFIELD AND EDWARD A. FIELD, .13., O1 CHICAGO, ELINOIS moron-CONTROLLED s'r'ammznn Application filed November 2, 1831. Serial No. 572,621.

The main object of this invention is to provide remote and improved control means for stabilizers of the type illustrated and described in application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 492,988, filed November 3, 1930, and in Letters Patent No. 1,783,418, dated December 2, 1930.

Another object is to provide a power means for controlling a draft stabilizer, the power means being incorporated in the stabilizer itself, whereby to constitute a portion of the counter-balancing weight.

A still further object is to provide a motor controlled draft stabilizer having limit switches associated therewith for preventing the over-travel of the counter-balancing weight.

A still further object is to provide a stabilizing apparatus of this character that is economical in construction and accurate and efficient in operation.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

, A structure which is a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a draft stabilizer embodying our invention.

Fig. 2- is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section. showing thedraft control vane or gate tilted partially open.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan View showing details of the counterweight adjusting mechanism.

In the embodiment illustrated'numeral 1 represents the wall of a building, which car- I ries the breeching 2 of a steam or other heat- 111g plant. The housing 3 is mounted on the front of the breeching 2, the latterhaving an opening 4 therein embraced by the housing. The housing 3 has an opening 5 in its front wall, the upper edge of which is substantially spaced from the top of the housing. Opening 5 is provided with a surrounding reinforcing frame 6, the bottom 7 of which constitutes a support for the pivots 8 of gate supporting members 9.

The gate 10 is supported within the housing 3 to close against'the inside of the front wall thereof, the gate or vane swinging into the housing, as shown in Fig. 2, when opening. The upper end of the vane is spaced from the top of the housing 3 so that there is a free flow or passage of air over the top of the gate when the latter is open. The side edges of the gate are close to the side walls of the housing so that very little air is permitted to flow around the edges of the gate when the latter is open.

Draft-control vane 10 is provided with a pair of spaced depending arms 11 which project a substantial distance below the pivots 8 of the supporting members 9. The pivots 8 are in rocking or bearing engagement with the bottom member 7 of the frame 6, which permits a mounting for the gate adapting it to be readily removed if desired and avoids the necessity of providing pintles and coacting hinge members.

At their lower ends the depending arms 11 carry a substantially rectangular counterweight supporting frame 12 having spaced ways or tracks 13 thereon. The traveling counterweight 14: is slidably carried by tracks 13 and is provided with an inverted L-shaped member 15 at the bottom thereof having a. threaded opening, the threads of which are engaged by the counterweight actuating screw 16 which'is journaled to the frame 12 and is adapted to be turned by electric motor 17 carried by depending bracket 18 integral with frame 12.

The motor 17 is of the reversible type and motor 17 includes push buttons or switches 20 connected thereto from a point removed therefrom by insulated electric cables or conductors 21.

The frame 12 is provided with limit switches 22 disposed at the ends thereof in the path of counterweight 14 for preventing the latter from over-traveling in case the motor 17 is'inadvertently connected to its source of power. The limit switches 22 are provided with cables 23 which are connected to the control circuit of the motorv 17 and with switch arms 24 which are provided with rollers 25 adapted to be engaged by the tappets 26 on the counterweight 14, these tap ets being in the embodiment illustrated beveled surfaces on the counterweight.

The weight of the motor 17 constitutes a counterweight which coacts with movable counterweight 14 for controlling the opening of gate 10. With the parts thus arranged the entire counterweight may be accurately balanced .with gate or vane 10 in its closed position. If an excessive draft tends to pass justed by opening and through the opening 5, vane 10 swings open. The weight 14 is readily and accurately adclosing the control switches 20 as described above.

In large installations it is often very troublesome to obtain access to draft-control stabilizers of the type described for the purpose of making slight adjustments when the load is changed or when it is desired to meet varying conditions such as starting a plant in the morning or after a shut-down. With our present improvement, the motor control push buttons 20 being located close to an instrument board where the gages are installed, it is an extremely simple matter for the operator to vary the draft as the condi tions or demands require.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of our invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pivoted draft-control vane having downwardly extending arms, a rame carried by said arms, tracks mounted on said frame, a traveling counterweight slidably carried on said tracks, and a screw journaled to said frameand engaging said counterweight for moving it back and forth on said tracks, of a reversible motor connected to said screw and mounted on said frame, a remote control for said motor, and limit switches carried by said frame in the path of said counterweight for stopping said motor to prevent the over-travel of said counterweight.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pivoted draft control vane having downwardly extending arms, a frame carried by said arms, tracks mounted on said frame, a traveling counterweight slidably carried on said tracks, and a screw for adjusting said counterweight, of a re versible motor connected to said screw and mounted on said frame, a remote control for said motor, and limit switches carried by said frame to prevent the over-travel of said counterweight.

3. A draft stabilizer comprising in combination a pivotally mounted plate movable to and from closing position, a supporting bar attached to said plate, a counterweight carried by said bar and underlying said plate, said counterweight being adjustable on said bar and about said bar to shift its center of gravity with respect to the plane of said plate, a screw engaging said counterweight, a reversible motor for turning said screw, switches for controlling said motor, and limit switches for stopping said motor in the event of overtravel of said counterweight.

4. A draft stabilizer comprising in combination a pivotally mounted plate movable to and from closing position, a supporting bar attached to said plate, a counterweight carried by said bar and underlying said plate, said counterweight being adjustable on said bar and about said bar to shift its center of gravity with respect to the plane of said plate, a screw engaging said counterweight, a reversible motor for turning said screw, and switches for controlling said motor.

5. A draft stabilizer comprising a pivoted gate, a counterweight supporting frame carried by said gate and provided with tracks, a counterweight, slidably mounted on said tracks, an adjusting screw for said counterweight, a reversible motor mounted on said frame and having driving connections to said screw, and a control switch means for said motor including stop switches mounted on said frame, said weight being provided with tappets coacting with said stop switches for limiting the travel of said counterweight.

6. A draft stabilizer comprising a pivoted gate, a counterweight supporting frame carried by said gate and provided with tracks, a counterweight slidably mounted on said tracks, a reversible motor mounted on said frame and having driving connections to said counterweight, and a control switch means for said motor including stop switches mounted on said frame, said weight being provided with tappets coacting with said stop switches for limiting the travel of said counterweight.

7. In a draft stabilizer, the combination of a pivotally mounted gate, a counterweight supporting frame mounted on said gate, a counterweight movably mounted on said frame, an adjusting screw for said counterweight, a reversible motor having driving connections to said screw, and stop switches said motor actuated by the travel of said counterweight.

" 8. In a draft stabilizer, the combination of a pivotally mounted gate, a counterweight supporting frame mounted on said gate, a counterweight movable mounted on said frame, an adjusting means for said counter- 10 weight including a reversible motor mounted on said frame, and stop switches for said motor actuated by the travel of said counterweight.

1 In witness whereof We have hereunto set EDWARD A. FIELD. EDWARD A. FIELD, JR.

15 our hands. 

